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Environmental News

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by tochatihu, Oct 22, 2015.

  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    I really need the sensor density as a function of area (standard units are OK) and the total area.

    Bob Wilson
     
  2. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    double whatsit
     
  3. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Triple whatsit - a record attempt?
     
  4. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Perhaps I misunderstood. I thought you were planning some testing that needed an array of soil water measurements.

    Bob Wilson
     
  5. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    I absolutely will. After sensors are speaking, there will be trays of (quite unusual) Honghe soil with controlled wetness and sensors no closer than 20 cm. Because if closer they may notice each other.

    I see three stages. First is hardware/software integration. Second is sensor calibrations under strict controls. Third is deployment in actual field soils where I am changing things.
     
  6. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    An interesting problem, I'll take a closer look.

    Bob Wilson
     
  7. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Arduinos, MUXs and sensors have been ordered. I wanted to get them from (more or less) trusted domestic suppliers but my employer has rules. Oddly enough they point to purchasing from Taobao. It is a dimly illuminated pit, so boxes might come filled with styrofoam packing & nothing else.

    Some Taobao suppliers play fair, but by no means all.

    Dense soil measurements are part of big-data agriculture and getting attention recently. But pointing towards high-priced equipment. Not a good fit for sub-industrial-scale agriculture. This is an intentionally disruptive plan.
     
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  8. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    • Good news - you have students
    • Bad news - sometime cyber exposure leads to a change in careers
    In college, I got an "F" on my first Fortran course even though I'd completed every homework assignment. When I retook the course, I blew off the homework assignments and read the first half of the Fortran manual for the mid-term and all of it before the final, got an "A". The grade was based on a multi-guess quiz on Fortran syntax.

    I have never consider computers anything more than a 'game of chess'. Apparently this led to a long and well compensated career. But it short-circuited other interesting puzzles.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #1128 bwilson4web, Dec 12, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2019
  9. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Arduino hardware and software are sold as easy enough for kiddies. So there is a risk if I can't make this work. Actually most Arduino projects seem silly to me. Probably just a poor demographic fit.

    Learning exercise for students is to bury soil sensors correctly vs. the normal lazy way. In this very rocky soil. Tools need to be utilized correctly. Paying $1000 for a tool does not remove that responsibility. Paying $2 instead makes it easier to teach.
     
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  10. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    excellent. entertaining and informative. kind of what i remember from the museum of science type of presentations.
     
  12. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    For some reason I thought you'd mention Brazil nuts.
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you wouldn't get me in one of those towers though :eek:
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i was thinking, dang, brazil nuts come from brazil nut trees?
     
  15. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    When I was at Oak Ridge I was very excited at possibility of sampling air from a 1000-foot tower. Unfortunately some radio engineer made a successful suicide from it, and they shut down access.
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    might be time for the cia to take out bolsonaro
     
  17. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    He called Greta a brat.
     
  18. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    No 'likes' for posts mentioning suicide. Let's maintain a degree of decorum.
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    does that put him in the same class as hill?:p
     
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    so noted, i was liking your bravery